As suspected ex-militants from the Niger Delta region, southern Nigeria, have allegedly threatened to kill the crew of a hijacked ship if the Nigerian government does not release pro-Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu, rumours are spreading that pro-Biafran separatists might join forces with Niger Delta groups.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and the Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) distanced themselves from the hijacking, stressing that they are not involved. However, Uchenna Madu, one of Massob leaders, was also quoted by AP as saying: "Some Niger Delta militants have shown interest in working with us."

There are no militants, only Biafran resistance

Ikechukwu Okoye, Ipob coordinator in Anambra state, told IBTimes UK that the term "Niger Delta militants" is allegedly used by officials to smear the reputation of people who fight for independence. "Niger Delta Militants are Biafrans agitating for what is rightly theirs to own," he said.

"Biafraland is being polluted and at the verge of utter destruction by the activities of oil companies, that care less about our welfare. Yet the [Nigerian] government has never deployed a considerable amount of money towards the rehabilitation and empowerment of our people," Okoye continued.

"So, Niger Delta militants – as they are called – cannot be joining forces with Biafrans because they too are Biafrans. They have come to terms with the realization that their very interests will be protected only in their father land, Biafra."

Immanuel Yaghozie, editor of Biafra 24, told IBtimes UK that groups in Niger Delta are "Biafrans resisting occupation." He said: "Niger Delta militants is a political term created by our oppressor to divide the great people of Biafra. No sensible person should question their 'Biafran-ness.' It's their ancestral land as long as we can remember. We have owned and resided on this piece of geography and real estate as our fathers did, centuries before the colonial overlords grabbed up Africa for breakfast.

"We make neither peace nor war with Nigeria in Biafra. We do not have to go to war with anybody over Biafra, we have the right to Self Determination and that is exactly what the people are doing, resisting oppression."

Intelligence point of view

Intelligence consultant David Otto, CEO of UK-based TGS Intelligence Consultants, urged the Nigerian government to pay more attention to the Biafran agitation and solve the problem of Kanu's detention.

He told IBTimes UK: "The incident shows that the Nigerian government has not understood yet that the Biafran secessionist movement should be taken seriously. A link between the Niger Delta militants and some pro-Biafrans is being established and Kanu's prolonged detention will further put the country in jeopardy.

"Niger Delta militants saw Kanu's detention as an opportunity to make demands," he continued. "They took advantage of the fact that a separatist leader is being detained. Nigeria does not have the means to face Boko Haram in the north as well as Niger Delta and pro-Biafrans in the south."
Governemnt's response

Speaking to IBTimes UK, defence spokesperson Rabe Abubakar said the identity of the hijackers and the hostages on the hijacked ship was still unknown. "I can confirm the incident happened," he said, adding the hijacking did not occur in Nigerian waters. "Whoever is behind this – individuals or groups – committed an act of sabotage. We are dealing with the government of Benin and we are working to ensure that the safety of those on board remains intact."

The Nigerian government has not made any comment regarding the ship hijacking. During a media chat in December 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari said Kanu would be released due to the "atrocities" allegedly committed. He added he was not worried about the Pro-Biafran movement.

In a previous interview with IBTimes UK, government's spokesperson Mike Omeri said Nigeria did not consider the separatist movement a threat to the current leadership, and defined pro-Biafrans as an "insignificant number of frustrated people who are not a threat to the existence of Nigeria".

4 comments

Nigeria Gov't should be careful. they are holding fire that will surely burn their hand claiming nothing is happening, militant never jokes. give them what they want. that all. or bear the international blame over the lives of those innocent foreigners on board the ship hijacked .

THE DEATH THAT KILLS A LITTLE DOG DOES NOT ALLOW IT PERCEIVE THE ODOUR OF FEACES!THEY TOOK BIAFRA RESTORATION PROJECT FOR GRANTED! NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BELIEVE THEY HAVE GUNS,SOLDIERS AND USE OF FORCE AND KILLING OF UNARMED BIAFRANS!

SO WITH ALL THAT THEY TAKE BIAFRA RESTORATION FOR GRANTED! AND SO REFUSE TO RELEASE NNAMDI KANU! AND CONDUCT REFERENDUM! NO PROBLEM!

ONE THING THAT IS SURE AND CERTAIN IS THAT IN THE END, WE WILL WIN! AND BIAFRA WILL BE RESTORED! NNAMDI KANU WILL BE RELEASED!

An adage in my mother tongue says that a dying fly always flow the corpse to the grave, its either the current administration doesn't has good advisers, or lets assume he does but are all bent on feeding him with lies and negative ideas, still presumably they gave him the good advise that may help everyone but seems he doesn't care to listen to one rather doing his mind, without taking much time, it has been & remains mayhem and destruction since the creation of Nigeria till date, if PMBuhari should be wise enough and tends to be famous he should let every components go their separate ways, as those who wishes to retain in Nigeria could continue with it, i tell you he PMBuhari will be the most respected and reputable president Nigeria could ever produced, but no not while crude oil from Biafraland still flow, even his own VP Osinbajo has recently said they can survive with or without oil, good name they said better than riches. He who has an ear let him hear, but in absence of good reason and necessities there will be no hidden place for the rich this time around, they thought or still thinks to be untouchable or unreachable with every high security personnel with unthinkable weapon on their possession, my goodness me, time shall tell. take it or ignore it its already happening. give Mohammedian Emirates of the North their Islamic Sharia State! Free Nnamdi Kanu and let the Biafrans free, while you retain your Nigeria in peace, i see nothing much difficult here to understand. Thank you. Signed Sir Chuks.